My interest in cloud computing began as cloud offerings from Microsoft, Amazon and Google began to mature back in 2015. At the time, many large enterprises initially looked at migrating to the cloud as an innovative way to reduce their IT infrastructure spending. Large enterprises began prioritising strategic initiatives around Cloud Migration and Cloud First approaches to software development thereby expediting the evolution and demand for cloud computing services in the overall IT ecosystem.
To keep up with technology and market demand, large IT companies began re-skilling and cross-training their workforces so that they were able to partner with clients to deliver on these initiatives. This was a great opportunity for me to be part of this journey to make a difference and led me to pivot and dig deeper into cloud computing.
APPLICATION
To truly appreciate the business value of cloud computing, it is important to first understand how multi-national companies own and operate their IT infrastructure.
Large corporations typically have several functions like Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, Sales and Marketing, Operations etc to help run their business.
Each of these functions utilise specific IT applications (software) to manage day-to-day operations; for example, HR/Finance would rely on payroll software to ensure salaries are paid, taxes are computed and deducted. Similarly, employees involved with business operations rely on critical IT applications to manage the supply chain, logistics, production etc.
Traditionally, these IT applications are tailor-made to the organisation, each hosted on servers in data centres that are owned and operated by companies like HP and IBM.
Relying on traditional data-centres involves significant capital expenses for computing hardware like servers, network infrastructure like routers & switches as well as physical hosting space (server racks), power consumption, security and maintenance of the infrastructure.
With the onset of cloud computing, cloud providers like Microsoft, Amazon and Google now make virtual computing resources available on the cloud instead of the traditional approach, thereby abstracting the burden of owning and managing the underlying infrastructure from the consumer.
BENEFITS
One of the many benefits is that it takes away the need for a large capital investment as with traditional data centre hosting models. Standing up IT infrastructure and scaling out now takes minutes when compared to several months or even years of negotiating rates and service contracts with data centres.
This has created immense opportunities for tech startups and large corporations alike, facilitating a culture of innovation and making it easier to expand globally, swiftly adapt to changing business needs and evolve their businesses through digital transformations.
Netflix is a great example of a company that has evolved and transformed its business model with the cloud “ from a postal mail-based DVD rental and sales company in 1997 to cloud-based streaming services in 2007 and finally now, to creating its own original content.
Netflix relies on cloud providers like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) among other cloud providers to deliver streaming content globally and power its artificial intelligence algorithms to tailor suggestions to deliver the best user experience.
FUTURE
Cloud computing is the fundamental technology building block of the future and is already very much part of our lives today. Whether it’s an eCommerce website like Flipkart that you’re shopping on or a random mobile app that you frequently use “ there’s a good chance it already relies heavily on cloud-based services.
Early exposure to cloud computing will help young Goans identify opportunities to solve real-world problems with technology.
(The writer is a Goan technology architect based out of Houston, Texas“USA and an expert in cloud computing)
